Board of Education

Effingham has been pretty steady building new schools and closing old ones over the past few years. The middle school on Hwy 119 being the next to go, what should be done with the property. What should be done with all the old buildings? I've heard rumors that they've purchased 25 acres from the IDA for a new bus shop/maintenance facility. What is wrong with the current location and newly vacant school? Why are tax dollars being used to purchase land when they already have land? Why should tax dollars pay for property to set vacant?

I agree with you on that one. We've seen some other threads about taxes and using government property. Those buildings, with some renovations, could be used for other purposes. That's why taxes remain high in certain areas. It is unrestrained spending at taxpayer expense, and as long as we tacitly agree to it, it will continue. Only problem is, the taxpayers are running out of money to foot the bill for every probject that is a gleam in someone's eye. Let's use, retrofit what we have and keep spending, and the tax rate, down. If not, those buldings will fall into disrepair and worse.

My father (age 75) graduated from an old, three-story, brick high school. Our town eventually built newer schools and that one sat un-used for decades. It fell into disrepair with the roof leaking and the hardwood floors bowing up 2 and 3 feet in places due to the water/snow damage. Kids would sneak in to get high and spray paint graffiti all over the walls. Everyone was convinced it needed to be torn down because it was a hazard and only a matter of time before some idiot kid fell through one of the floors to his death. A solution was found when the place was bought by a private company, refurbished and turned into an assisted living retirement home. My mother and Grandmother ended up living there.

I don't know if something like that could be done with any of our BOE's old properties, but with growth in Effingham continuing, it's something to consider, don't you think?

I think they should keep building schools in Effingham until all roads have turning lanes and flashing lights.[quote author=Cluster Duck link=topic=29096.msg380501#msg380501 date=1246384253]Just wondered what anyone's thoughts/ideas were on the following.

Effingham has been pretty steady building new schools and closing old ones over the past few years. The middle school on Hwy 119 being the next to go, what should be done with the property. What should be done with all the old buildings? I've heard rumors that they've purchased 25 acres from the IDA for a new bus shop/maintenance facility. What is wrong with the current location and newly vacant school? Why are tax dollars being used to purchase land when they already have land? Why should tax dollars pay for property to set vacant?

Just some thoughts/concerns, curious to hear what anyone else thinks. [/quote]

So often people complain about the schools but it's all related to growth and complicated by the fact that no elected official in Effingham ever understood what growth means and how much it costs the average taxpayer.

Five years ago, there was not, nor even any semblance of, a community-wide effort to question the assumptions made by the real estate developer crowd, the gleeful chirping by the Chamber of Commerce and the county's PR firm about "all the growth that is coming to Effingham" that necessitated the county's decision to build the multi-million dollar water and sewer infrastructure to accommodate "all the growth."

The problem was that so few taxpayers understood the big picture that they, too, swallowed whole hog, the overly optimistic nonsense about growth. None of the people we elected ever had a clue about what they were doing to this county's resources and with the taxpayers' money.

Where was the angst, five years ago, when the county and the school board made such foolish decisions about growth?

Where were the questions when the county spent $40 million under the untutored assumption that Effingham's population would double in twelve years, without any new roads, without basically anything else, but with a new school needed every eighteen months because the sky was the limit with "all the growth?

Any hoped for debate was stifled by real estate developers who controlled the Chamber of Commerce, real estate developers who ran the county commission, and the planning board, and the school board, and who ran the IDA.

The rest of the elected elite of this county, out of their league to question the mighty powers that were, in fear of being shamed for their ignorance and inexperience and timidity made us the laughing stock for anybody across the State of Georgia with one ounce of understanding about "growth."

Your taxes are paying for all this foolishness at this very moment.

All the status quo crowd ever cared to know, and repeated, [i]ad nauseum,[/i] was that Effingham was one of the fastest growing counties in the United States and that great things were about to loose themselves from the grip of heaven and descend, like manna, upon the dusty ignorance and shame of this historically impoverished place because God was, after far too long, finally smiling upon it.

Not one of them, not one, ever came forth with one simple word of caution. Not one.

Ham, with the amount of seniors that are 'coming of age' and the way Social Security and Health Care (ins.) are performing, this would be a good solution for everybody. Imagine the outrage, something from the county that would work!

[quote author=Bones link=topic=29096.msg380896#msg380896 date=1246448564]Ham, with the amount of seniors that are 'coming of age' and the way Social Security and Health Care (ins.) are performing, this would be a good solution for everybody. Imagine the outrage, something from the county that would work![/quote]

That is a good idea. The middle school on Hwy 119 would easily convert to apartments for assisted living.

I'm not complaining about building new schools. I think education should be the highest priority and new/"up to date" schools are part of it. My main question is why by land for a new bus shop when the current bus shop is sitting on a 50 acre parcel?

I found out some more disturbing news about our board of education last night. Supposedly, they've approved $20,000 for Randy Shearouse to go back to school and get his doctorate. This comes at a time when there's no money to hire new teachers and existing teachers' budgets have been cut for purchasing educational supplies. Why does Randy need a doctorate, he's already in the highest position possible? Oh wait, he'll get a raise for having a higher education. Way to go Effingham. That's the way to look out for the children.

[quote author=Cluster Duck link=topic=29096.msg384146#msg384146 date=1247312768]I found out some more disturbing news about our board of education last night. Supposedly, they've approved $20,000 for Randy Shearouse to go back to school and get his doctorate. This comes at a time when there's no money to hire new teachers and existing teachers' budgets have been cut for purchasing educational supplies. Why does Randy need a doctorate, he's already in the highest position possible? Oh wait, he'll get a raise for having a higher education. Way to go Effingham. That's the way to look out for the children. [/quote]

======================[color=red]In a motion by C. Eddie Tomberlin and a second by James W. Dasher, the Board of Education voted to compensate the Superintendent a total of $20,000 over the next three years for advanced studies[/color]=======================Springfield, Georgia May 1, 2009The Effingham County Board of Education met in special session on May 1, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. with the following members present: Troy K. Alford, F. Lamar Allen, James W. Dasher, Charles E. Tomberlin and Vicki Decker. Also present were: Greg Arnsdorff, Meredith Arnsdorff, Rebecca Long, Slade Helmly and Ron Wilson.Charles E. Tomberlin opened the meeting with an invocation.The board voted unanimously to adopt the agenda after a motion by Troy K. Alford and a second by C. Eddie Tomberlin.Director of Administrative Services Dr. Slade Helmly gave an update on the progress of ongoing, completed and potential building projects. There were several questions from the board regarding some projects.Human Resources Director Becky Long led a discussion regarding the possibility of beginning a Sick Leave Bank and gave a brief review on FMLA.Assistant Superintendent Meredith Arnsdorff gave an update on HB251 and presented information regarding dress code.Finance director Ron Wilson addressed the Fiscal Management Handbook.Assistant Superintendent Greg Arnsdorff addressed the upcoming SACS visit.Superintendent Randy Shearouse gave a brief update on the Athletic Handbooks for South Effingham and Effingham County High Schools.After returning from a break, the board had a round-table discussion regarding the system’s budget.A motion was made by Vicki Decker to go into executive session and seconded by Troy K. Alford.In a motion by Vicki Decker and a second by Troy K. Alford, the board accepted the superintendent’s personnel recommendations as noted on the attached personnel action list.In a motion by James W. Dasher and seconded by F. Lamar Allen, the board voted to end the executive session.[b][/b]In a motion by C. Eddie Tomberlin and a second by James W. Dasher, the Board of Education voted to compensate the Superintendent a total of $20,000 over the next three years for advanced studies.[b][/b]Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 5:30 p.m.____________________________ _______________________________F Lamar Allen, Chairperson Randy Shearouse, Superintenden

CD: I don't know the rules in this situation, but I do know that if a federal employee gets tuition assistance from the government, then that employee has to stay with the government for a certain period of time to "pay back" for the aid so the government gets some benefit from this education. If the employee leaves before that time period is up, then he/she literally pays back the money.

Perhaps, when Randy was hired, the board made it a condition consequent that he get a doctorate. Dr. Moore had one and I think most of Randy's peers have one. I think it's a good idea. If he makes more money, then good for Randy and good for Effingham.

I'm not saying furthering education is wrong. I admire anyone who pursues and is able to get a "higher" education. I think it's great that there are still employers that will pay for employees to go back to school. In this instance I believe the "timing" is bad.

I have a close friend who can't get a teaching job, because no one is hiring. I know of teachers who, due to budget cuts, have had to completely redo lesson plans, with no extras. Yet class sizes are steadily growing.

Educating the children of our county should be the highest priority, not educating the employees.

With the economy in the tank and budgets being cut left and right, the little money left to work with should go towards the more important things.

[quote author=Cluster Duck link=topic=29096.msg384631#msg384631 date=1247448468]I'm not saying furthering education is wrong. I admire anyone who pursues and is able to get a "higher" education. I think it's great that there are still employers that will pay for employees to go back to school. In this instance I believe the "timing" is bad.

I have a close friend who can't get a teaching job, because no one is hiring. I know of teachers who, due to budget cuts, have had to completely redo lesson plans, with no extras. Yet class sizes are steadily growing.

Educating the children of our county should be the highest priority, not educating the employees.

With the economy in the tank and budgets being cut left and right, the little money left to work with should go towards the more important things.[/quote]

I agree with you. It seems I have been around educators all my life.

My former wife just retired from Chatham County and now teaches at a private school. Her husband is a retired Chatham HS principal. Of my two younger sisters, one is a full-time teacher and her husband recently left Chatham County Schools for self-employment in an international art dealer business. My other sister taught history at a private school years ago after college, was a docent at the St. Louis Art Museum for fifteen years, and now teaches French twice a week privately in Savannah.

And my son, who just graduated with a BA from Mercer University in May, informs me he might want to seek a graduate degree or teach underprivileged children for a couple of years before he pursues law school!

As you might imagine, it was hard for me ever to have an opinion about education around the dinner table without being told what was what, if you know what I mean.

But, all joking aside, I believe education is the most fundamental element for free men to pursue happiness in a free society because we are enslaved by ignorance without it.

As for the business of Effingham County:

When Randy replaced Dr. Moore to run Effingham's school system, many people, who know more about the history of Effingham than I ever will, had the opinion that the only reason he got the job was because of support of old Salzburger family connections, his in-laws, the status quo crowd of the Chamber of Commerce, and approval from the retiring Dr. Moore.

And I, too, thought that surely Effingham ought to be matured from its historicly isolated provincialism that it would seek the most qualified person available in the US to hire for the job.

Quite frankly, I'm a little surprised to learn that Randy doesn't already have a doctorate. I assumed, perhaps in error, that a doctorate in education was a prerequisite for the job of superintendent in a system the size of Effingham's in Georgia.

But it seems that Effingham wants to give the top jobs to its own whether it's the hospital or the school system. It has not matured enough to trust the world beyond it's borders.

But this is not to say that these people are not qualified. They certainly are. I'm only saying that this county still lacks the confidence to compete in the real world. It says it wants the best but fails to seek it. This attitude will work against its stated goal for "the best" as long as it places zenophobic consanquinity above extraneous merit.

And I think whoever holds the enormous responsibility of educating Effingham's children should do it without having to defend their own educational shortcomings without sounding like a to-the-plantation-born hypocrite of privilege. Otherwise, the message to children is that education, hard work and meritorious recognition are not as important as who you know, how your family ranks in the community, and the strings it can pull to put you on top.

This is a terrible message to give children in this day and age but it continues to be thwarted into Effingham's heads, young and old, by an entrenched belief that Effingham, as is, is better than the rest of the world. This misguided belief encourages only a sense of dubious self-consciousness, not self-confidence.

But at the end of the day, Randy Shearouse has a job for life--just as Dr. Moore. He is a fine man man and I doubt he wants less than the best for the children in his charge. He is qualified for the job and, although he got it without really being the undisputed best, I think he knows that because I think he is a good and decent man.

Maybe he might save a student one day, in the throes of rebellion against the demands of academe, with stories of his own travails to pass a test, to earn for himself what no one else can, to seek merit, and to deserve the confidence his position demands.

That's why I support the board's decision to help him on his way. I know $20,000 is a lot of money that is certainly needed elsewhere, but it is also needed here.

There is also an inherent unfairness in life that will never change no matter how much we are offended by its furtherance through the powers that be. But I believe the best way to escape its influence is through education, whenever and however available, and to whomever will avail themselves of it.

My perspective is based on 25 years of positive experiences with my children's education in the Effingham County School System (including one Star Student and one salutatorian) and just as many years spent watching the revolving door down at 208 Bull Street where Chatham County School Superintendents get flushed about as often as their toilets.

I don't know anything about the role Randy's familial connections may have played in his initial hiring, but I do believe he has done a good job since becoming Superintendent and I've never heard anyone present any credible evidence to the contrary.

My approval of the $20,000 for helping him get his doctorate is based on two considerations-1) School systems are huge businesses and these Superintendents are the CEOs of these businesses. In many districts, including our own, they are the largest employer in the county. While I agree with Cluster Duck that this may not be the best time economically for the school board to approve these funds, I do think they have to look at the long-term situation and reward their top performers whenever possible.

2) I would be very surprised if Randy were actively looking to jump ship to another school system but the truth is that the salary range for this position varies widely just within our own state borders and I never blame a person for trying to better himself financially. I imagine another school system would jump at the chance to sweeten their own offer to Randy with the promise of helping him earn his doctorate. So it may be that spending $20,000 now makes good financial sense in the long run if you look at it as a long-tem investment that is mutually beneficial to both sides.

My kids are all graduated so this whole argument is merely "academic" to me.

All I have to worry about now is how proficient my grocery bagger is at separating the fabric softener from my fresh veggies.

Have it your way...let's see how fast we can run Randy off... then we can hire some Yankee know-it-all from East Flushing, N.J.

That sounds like a really "super" idea to me!!! I'll have nothing else to add to your discussion on this issue.

Peace on brother! :P[/quote]

My general bias informs me that no matter how much money you throw at education, and no matter how qualified teachers and management are, nothing can compensate for a home environment to insure students' success.

You had a salutatorian and a Star student? That's impressive. And it tells me you provided the home life conducive for academic achievement--discipline, encouragement and recognition. I'm sure you placed limits in TV and gave a sober environment for homework, etc.

As a rule, children fail at school because their parents fail. Those parents are always the first to criticize the school system. That's because those parents are very much like undisciplined children themselves. They hate responsibility and go through life blaming their own failings on someone else. I hate their ignorance and what it does to children.

Whatever problems some of our schools are having are due more to the homes the failing children come from, not who the superintendent is and how much he makes.

On the other hand, as I mentioned in my above post, the powers that be in this county prefer home grown instead of merit. This is a serious shortcoming of Effingham's leadership. This puts good people like Randy at a disadvantage when something goes wrong. A lot of people, right or wrong, will immediately say the problem exists because the county got second rate because the "fix" was in.

Who knows? Maybe somebody from NJ might do a better job. There's no way to tell.

But I think we ought to look at some of the social problems failing children bring from home, beyond the reach of even the very best educators, whoever that is. There are too many of these children in this county and there are too many parents who are the real culprits.

Doyen, you hit the nail on the head. Society wants to blame everyone, except the parents. Everytime I get in a conversation about someone doing wrong I always say it goes back to the parents and how they raised their children.

Mr. Ed, I'm not in favor of running off Mr. Shearouse. I think it's great he wants to further his education. I think it shows what kind of man he is. My problem is that in the current economic times I don't think the board should have approved this. With the two schools failing, what will be better help? A superintendent with a doctorate or hiring more teachers and giving them a better budget to spend on actual education?

Well, it seems that Mr. Shearhouse has turned down the generous offer of an extra $20,000 to pay for his doctorate classes in light of budget cuts and furloughs...and maybe even pressure from the taxpayers that voice their opinions on these forums.

A very shrewd and wise move that will certainly pay off with more than $20k worth of political clout in his future.